Sports pinball amusement device

ABSTRACT

A sports game pinball amusement device for playing a sports game. The playing field contains a plurality slots with sensors for determining the activity in a game and a multiplicity of slots with sensors representing the final. The game is played by launching a ball along an inclined playing field to determine the plays in a baseball, football, soccer game or the like, which is programmed into a microprocessor.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 09/201,457 filed Mar. 8, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a sports game pinball amusementdevice, which simulates a sports event using images of players displayedon a graphic display device. More particularly, there is provided apinball machine, which simulates actions in a baseball, softball,football game, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A large number of players play pinball games to kill time.However, because the pinball machine is a simple game and the game isover in a short period of time, there is a problem that the players arenot able to kill time, as they desire. Further, because of the simplegame, a large number of players lose interest in games.

[0004] Pinball machines have numerous configurations that are well knownin the art. It is conventional practice in a pinball machine apparatusto modify the structure on the game surface, the design and the scorevalue of different targets in order to revive the incentive of practicedplayers without changing the principal of the game.

[0005] There are many commercially available pinball machines thatincorporate various scoring indicators, lights, graphics and sound.These machines include mechanical three-dimensional figures thatcommunicate visually and audibly with a player.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,049 to Borg, which is herein incorporated byreference, discloses a pinball machine wherein a section of the playingfield is changed by rotating the section to expose different components.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,142 to Arad, which is herein incorporated byreference, discloses a pinball machine having provisions for translatinga ball in play throughout a plurality of locations. There is alsoprovided an audio system to provide a speaking effect in response todifferent play conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided asports-oriented pinball machine having a slanted playing field and aplurality of representative playing slots arranged on the playing fieldabout the bottom of the playing field to determine the activitiesspecific for the sport. Playing slots are provided with sensors fordetecting a ball that enters the slot. A microprocessor is provided,which is activated when a ball enters a slot to record an activityand/or a score and display the activity which occurred. Means areprovided on the playing field to translate a ball in play throughout aplurality of locations thereon.

[0009] Advantageously, video and audio means are provided in associationwith the microprocessor for providing speaking and/or sound or lighteffects in response to different play conditions.

[0010] In a baseball game the action of the ball on the playing fieldcan determine hits, runs, errors, stolen bases and the like.

[0011] In a football game, first downs, field goals, touchdowns, andlost yardage can be determined by the released ball.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a pinballgame apparatus in which a sports activity is depicted.

[0013] It is a further object of the invention to provide a sports gamepinball game apparatus, which alters the playing field to challenge theskill of the user.

[0014] It is yet another object of the invention to provide visual andsound effects, which respond to the playing conditions of a sportsactivity.

[0015] It is still another object to provide a game in which the essenceof a baseball game or the like is provided.

[0016] The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings,which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not to beconsidered as limiting the present invention.

[0017] Further scope of applicability of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.However, it should be understood that the detailed description andspecific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sports pinball machine of theinvention.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a baseball game apparatusaccording to the invention.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of further embodiment of theinvention.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a footballgame pinball machine according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] As seen in FIG. 1, in the simplest form of the invention, thereis provided a pinball apparatus 10 comprising a housing having an upperface 12, which forms the sloping playing field. The playing field isconventionally covered by a transparent glass pane 14.

[0023] The housing is defined by a first or top wall 14 ¹, a rear wall15 and side walls 16 and 17. The playing field 12 is inclined downwardlytoward the rearwall 15 so that a ball will roll downwardly because ofgravity.

[0024] The playing field has a plurality of path altering pins 20 andbumpers 18 to accommodate various ball path-altering provisions. Theplaying field may also contain first ball path altering slot or slots 19formed by walls that contain sensors 22, which define the activities inthe game. The pins 20 may also comprise various fixed and elastic,active and passive targets as common in the game.

[0025] Along the bottom wall 15 there is a plurality of slots 20 ¹,which contain sensors 21 that can sense a ball entering one of the slots20 ¹. Slots 20 ¹ define the play in a particular game, for example, hit,home run, walk, etc.

[0026] Preferably, the slot or slots 19 define hits, strikes, balls andsteals, and the bottom wall slots 20 ¹ define strike outs, walks, homeruns, etc.

[0027] A ball launch guide 16, is disposed near one side of the housing.Launch guide 16 is bound by a wall which is offset a nominal distancefrom side wall 17 to form a ball launching channel. A spring loaded pullknob 32, ball contact end 28, and an intermediate body having acompression spring 30, is collinearly mounted through the housing alongthe longitudinal extent of launch guide 16. When knob 32 is fullyextended, ball 26 exits launch guide 16, and is first expelled byreleasing knob 32. Once ball 26 exits launch guide 16, it is in play andmay come into contact with wall 14 ¹, bumpers 18, and enters first slots19 which define a ball or strike. The object of the game is to enterinto a selected slot 19 and 20 ¹. Each slot 20 ¹ is provided with asensor 21, which is associated with a microprocessor that contains aprogram, which acts with a sensor 21 in the slots 20. In the case ofbaseball, the microprocessor provides either the actions of the hometeam or visitors. Two can play the game. The players skill in being ableto enter a given slot 19 and 20 will decide the particular activity inthe game desired.

[0028] Along the upper part of the housing and along the top wall 14 ¹is a display board 32, which is associated with a microprocessor toprovide the score and a visual display on screen 40 in accordance withthe play on the playing field and the sensors 22 and 21 activated by aball 26. The display can depict a player running, stealing a base,striking out, etc.

[0029] The microprocessor is also programmed to display images ofplayers running, coin insertion, coin payout, etc. If the ball 26 entersa slot 20 ¹, the sensor signals the microprocessor, which senses thedisplay board 32 and displays the activity and score. Generally, thereare slots 20 ¹ on the playing field for each event in the game andoptionally an additional slot for extra innings that is an LED so as todisplay that slot when scoring occurs of a particular value.

[0030] Along the playing field are a plurality of pins 20 and bumpers18, which randomly direct the ball to slots 19 and 20 ¹. The size andshape of the pins as well as their positioning on the playing field havean effect on the ball and the odds of a ball going to a specific slot.

[0031] Upon inserting a number of coins into the slot 34 prior toplaying the game, a sensing means senses the coins inserted so as toprovide pulse signals corresponding to the number of coins which aretransmitted to and counted by a detection unit and by pressing button 36¹¹¹, a signal is sent to activate the control unit which provides asignal to the microprocessor to activate the game.

[0032] The playing field may be provided with active and/or inactivepins and bumpers which not only provide scoring but also activate avideo or sound program. The balls 26, as they roll down the inclinedplane, randomly bump into pins or bumpers to deflect the path of theball. At the bottom of the playing field, there may be provided thrustlevers or flippers 24 a controlled by buttons 24, which can direct theball 26 into play for different slots or direction. The length of theflippers can be as conventionally used in a pinball apparatus.

[0033] The playing field at the back wall is provided with a gutter orreturn mechanism, which is conventional in the art. One such mechanismis described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,213, which is herein incorporated byreference.

[0034] The game is played in a manner similar to known pinball machines.In the preferred embodiment, the general rules are as follows: Theplayer will play balls until three outs are recorded in themicroprocessor. Scoring is made by having a ball enter into one of slots19, which can depict a hit and then into one of slots 20 ¹ to obtain ascore. The game can be started by placing coins into slot 34, wherebycoin insert and detection unit signals the CPU. Alternatively, a startbutton 36 ¹¹¹ is pressed. The CPU has a control unit, which illuminatesthe game board by LED's, an LCD for visual display and the audio units.

[0035] The player selects the desired play by pressing one of thebuttons 36 ¹, 36 ¹¹ after activities are displayed for the home team orvisitor. The start button 36 ¹¹¹ causes the release of a ball 26 intolaunch channel 16.

[0036] The ball 26 is put into play by extending and releasing knob 32.The ball in play can be controlled by the skill of the player in beingable to control the direction of the ball by a controlled vibration ofthe machine. Optionally, a tilt mechanism may be provided to control thedegree of vibration. If the tilt detector is activated, the game isover.

[0037] The ball 26 travels downward toward the back wall 14 ¹ so as toenter one of the first set of slots 19 and activate one of the sensors22 which are lit. According to the game, the direction of the ball isdetermined by the skill of the player in using the flippers 24 acontrolled by button 24 and in vibrating the apparatus.

[0038] The projected images and sounds can be triggered by one or moretargets or pins 18 which are electrically connected with the CPU totrigger an image or sound upon impact with a ball 26. There may beprovided a projector (not shown) which comprises a cassette with anendless film which cyclically produces an image on the display. There isfurther the possibility to trigger image reproduction and sound orchange when the sensors 21, 22 have been activated.

[0039] The game of baseball can be played by releasing a ball to firstgo into one of the slots 19 to decide an action such as steal, hit bypitched ball, etc. The slots 19 may have actions for offense or defenseor be randomly selected by the microprocessor whereby all slots displayan offensive action or defensive action.

[0040] The slots will be displayed by LED or LCD after the game starts.The kind or value of the slots can be permanent or randomly selected.For baseball, the computer will select the outcome of each ball. Theplayer could then shoot the ball to determine an offensive play ordefensive play.

[0041] A similar arrangement can be made for the game of softball.

[0042] Along the playing field, near pins 20, may be positioned sensors22 about the bases which indicate a single, double, or triple which hasbeen hit so that action on the field can take place before the ball 26reaches slots 20 ¹.

[0043]FIG. 2 represents a game similar to that shown in FIG. 1. The gamediffers by not providing sensors along the bases and allowing the playof multiple innings.

[0044] The apparatus 110 has a top wall 114 ¹, side walls 116 and 171. Alaunch channel 111 is formed by wall 261 and 171. A ball 0 is put intoplay by extending a knob 221 which is attached to rod 21 which extendsinto the channel 111. The ball 0 is put into play when the knob 221 isreleased and the compression spring 251 has the front end 241 impact onthe ball 0 where upon it will enter the playing field. On the playingfield the ball 0 will encounter the bumpers and/or pins 181 as well asthe slots 19 and 20.

[0045] A difference from the game of FIG. 1 is that multiple coins canbe placed in coin slot 42 to pay for extra innings or for two players tooppose each other. In which case, the buttons 41, 41A, 41 ¹ and 41 ¹¹are associated to signal a microprocessor the activities played. Button41 represents one player and button 41A represents the second play whichinforms the microprocessor which program is to be used. Button 41 ¹releases a ball onto the launch channel 111 for play. Button 41 ¹¹starts the game after the coins are placed in coin slot 42.

[0046] Similar to the game shown in FIG. 1, there are flippers 50Aactivated by button 50 which keep the ball 0 in play to keep it fromentering an out slot which may be represented by one or more slots 20 ¹.

[0047]FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein thebottom slots are on a carousel 55. The carousel is controlled by amicroprocessor which randomly selects which slots 55 ¹ are accessible bya played ball 0. Each of the slots 55 ¹ has a sensor (not shown) whichsenses a ball 0 entering and failing into ball return 56. Walls 57, 57 ¹and 58 deflect the ball 0 into one of the slots 55.

[0048] The game can contain the options programmed into themicroprocessor whereby the plays, pitches or the like, are drawn by themicroprocessor or obtained by playing the game a plurality of ballsuntil one or three outs are reached. The game may be drawn to a singleplayer at bat or a part of an inning.

[0049] The machine can alternately be provided with a single forwardslot, which in combination with a video display advances a runner onbase that is determined by the microprocessor, or the carousel cancomprise a multiplicity of slots, which are for determining a hit,steal, out, etc. Buttons 59 and 59 ¹ provide the player with the optionto select how the game is to be played.

[0050]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration according to thepresent invention wherein a microprocessor or CPU 70 is a memory devicein which every processing program is stored. CPU 70 controls the LCDdisplay 64, a coin insertion and detection unit 60 for detecting theinsertion of a coin and includes a coin payout unit for paying outcoins.

[0051] The CPU has a motor control unit 61 which controls the activationof the sensors 21, 22, a lamp control unit 62 which illuminates theapparatus upon insertion of a coin, a LED control unit 63 for the LED's48 of the sensors 21, 22 and other illuminations, a LCD control unit 64for the video display which also contains a graphic RAM for storinggraphic data to be sent to the video display and a character ROM inwhich character data are stored, and a sound control unit 65 whichstores sounds or announcements for different activities on the videodisplay.

[0052] The device of the invention contains a memory device 71 in whichevery processing program is stored, means for controlling operations ofthe processing programs, a CRT control circuit 61 with a CRT display forimages of base runners, a coin insertion detector 60B for detecting theinsertion of coins, a counter of coins and a payout hopper.

[0053] The CRT control circuit 61 comprises a CRT controller forcontrolling the images to CRT 61A, a graphic RAM for storing graphicdata to be sent to the CRT 61A and a character ROM in which characterdata are stored.

[0054] A baseball game can be played by allowing play of a multiplicityof balls until three outs are reached. The slots at the front of theapparatus can represent hits, outs, balls or strikes.

[0055] The slots at the rear of the apparatus can represent one or moreouts, double play, hit, home run and the like. A ball going through slot19 can represent a single. The striking of selective bumpers canrepresent a steal. The entry of a ball into slot 20 can represent hit,out, double play, etc. All of which plays are programmed into themicroprocessor.

[0056] Advantageously, a video program with sound displays the action ofthe balls. The same action occurs in a softball game.

[0057] In a football game, the object is to score a touchdown, which canbe represented by a ball reaching the rear slots. The front slots canrepresent first downs, loss yardage, etc. Selected bumpers can providefirst downs or lost yardage, all of which is shown by the microprocessoron a video screen. The rear slots can represent touchdown, field goal,fumble, etc. When a programmed score or a fumble or the other side takespossession the game is over. A payout occurs when there is a score.

[0058] Games, which can be programmed for the apparatus includebaseball, softball, football, rugby and soccer.

[0059] Sounds which can be programmed into the microprocessor can bethat of a sports announcer which announces “hit, out, etc” in a baseballgame or the like.

[0060] The player may choose to continue to play based on the cumulativescore or he may choose to pay out. The machine may be programmed todispense tickets or coins.

[0061] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that it is not intended to be limited tothe particular embodiments shown, but on the contrary, the intention isto cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sports game pinball machine for playing asports game, said machine having a housing with a top wall, a rear walland a pair of side walls and of which the upper face is designed as aplaying area, said housing having means for translating at least oneball throughout a plurality of locations therein, means for launchingsaid ball for play action and means for displaying a sports actionresponsive to said play action, said play area being inclined downwardlyso that a ball will roll downwardly because of gravity and having amultiplicity of slots about the rear wall having means for sensing saidball for determining an activity, which is part of the game that isrepresented by said slot, and a programmed microprocessor, which depictsa sports activity by the action of a ball on the playing field.
 2. Themachine of claim 1 comprising slots about the rear wall.
 3. The machineof claim 1 including a multiplicity of slots about the front wall havingmeans for sensing said ball for determining a game play.
 4. The machineof claim 3 wherein slots about the front wall comprise at least four. 5.The machine of claim 1 wherein said means for scoring and controllingthe process of said game comprises a microprocessor programmed for thesport of baseball, football or the like.
 6. The machine of claim 1wherein the slots about the rear wall are on a rotary carousel.
 7. Themachine of claim 6 wherein said carousel is rotated and controlled bysaid microprocessor.
 8. The machine of claim 1 wherein said apparatuscomprises value determining depicting means and a multiplicity of ballsare played, said determining means relates to an inning played by a teamin the game of baseball.
 9. The machine of claim 1 wherein saidapparatus comprises baseball determining means for balls played for thegame of baseball.
 10. The machine of claim 9 wherein said first slotsare selectively activated to represent yardage in a football game. 11.The machine of claim 1 including a tilt detector.
 12. The machine ofclaim 1 including flipper means.
 13. The machine of claim 1 comprising amultiplicity of rear wall slots containing sensing means, one of saidslots comprising a home run in the game of baseball.
 14. The machine ofclaim 1 including means for providing a visual display and sound when aball enters a selected slot to activate a video of a game activity. 15.The machine of claim 1 including a movement determining means fordetermining the position of a player on a base in the game of baseball.